Did The Leafs Mismanage Gardiner/Franson This Summer?

[seanlinden]

This past summer, the Leafs overhauled / retooled their defence, but also decided to re-up a pair of RFAs in Franson & Gardiner. Gardiner got the $4m 5 year deal to buy one year of unrestricted free agency, Franson got his 3rd consecutive 1 year deal at $3.3m, to take him to unrestricted free agency.

20 games into the season...

Franson: 18 GP (injured to start), 3 goals, 11 assists, +5, playing on the top pair at even strength with Dion Phaneuf, top powerplay, and #2 PK unit.

Gardiner: 18 GP (healthy scratch 2 games), 1 goal, 3 assists, -9, playing on what would likely be considered a 2nd pair with Robidas and/or Polak, top powerplay and no PK time.

Obviously, the Leafs didn't have the cap space to extend both long term, but if Franson can continue his early season play, he's likely looking at the deal that Matt Niskanen got last year, and saying me too.

Would they not have been better off, had they locked him up long term (let's say 5 years X 4.75m), and given Gardiner a 1 year bridge at something like $2.5m? especially considering in a worst-case scenario, they had a "Gardiner-backup" in Morgan Rielly, nobody who has Franson's skills.

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[Maple Leaf]

The genius that is the Leafs management has built a defense full of offensive defenseman. How about building a team with defenseman who can actually play defense? I would like to see both of them gone.

 

[Bullseye]

This past summer, the Leafs overhauled / retooled their defence, but also decided to re-up a pair of RFAs in Franson & Gardiner. Gardiner got the $4m 5 year deal to buy one year of unrestricted free agency, Franson got his 3rd consecutive 1 year deal at $3.3m, to take him to unrestricted free agency.

20 games into the season...

Franson: 18 GP (injured to start), 3 goals, 11 assists, +5, playing on the top pair at even strength with Dion Phaneuf, top powerplay, and #2 PK unit.

Gardiner: 18 GP (healthy scratch 2 games), 1 goal, 3 assists, -9, playing on what would likely be considered a 2nd pair with Robidas and/or Polak, top powerplay and no PK time.

Obviously, the Leafs didn't have the cap space to extend both long term, but if Franson can continue his early season play, he's likely looking at the deal that Matt Niskanen got last year, and saying me too.

Would they not have been better off, had they locked him up long term (let's say 5 years X 4.75m), and given Gardiner a 1 year bridge at something like $2.5m?

Franson is playing well and he wants to be here. They key is to get Gardiner off the blueline - admit they made a huge mistake - send him somewhere for something and invest that ice-time in someone who is going to learn.

 

[Antropovsky]

The genius that is the Leafs management has built a defense full of offensive defenseman. How about building a team with defenseman who can actually play defense? I would like to see both of them gone.

Franson has been an essential part of our offense this year, sometimes the catalyst. Nothing wrong with keeping him as a pp specialist and limiting his 5 vs 5 numbers or defensive zone starts.

 

[Mess]

Bernier, Kadri and Franson all need new contracts next season and there are rumours that the Cap may not go up.

So there may not be Cap room to keep Franson beyond this season and since he is a pending UFA he is going to want a big $$$ payday and is playing like he is in a contract year.

Many teams are looking for RH shooting PP capable Dman and I think Franson is going to test the UFA waters now.

Should the Leafs have locked him up long-term perhaps, but he was coming off a team worst -20 +/- and that made getting a long-term contract much harder based on his play.

 

[Murphy Blue]

I think Franson could stay, he's starting to come into his own and was great in the half season two seasons ago. Last season hopefully was a one-off for him.

Also, Gardiner is a kid. He will get better.

 

[ARoggy94]

Franson's been having a great year. I've always argued he's an elite blueline QB at both PP and even strength.

There are very few defencemen in the east who have his patience with the puck at the point.. Karlsson, Subban, Markov being the notable ones, obviously. But, I think he's up there with McDonagh and Campbell for sure.

 

[Stephen]

Franson has pulled ahead of Gardiner but I'm also not convinced investing in him long term is the prudent decision. The Leafs get burned so often locking up guys in their final year.

Gardiner looks like an absolute dog out there though. No intensity, avoids physical play, is clueless and already has his raise. He may have to go.

 

[Rufio65*]

Of course Nonis made a huge mistake with that Gardiner contract. It was a huge, unnecessary gamble on a player who's play didn't warrant it. He needs to trade Gardiner before it's too late. Make no mistake.. Gardiners contract will be worse than Clarksons. Clarkson is an NHL player with intangibles, Gardiner is an AHL tweener with the hockey IQ of a dog.

 

[ARoggy94]

Of course Nonis made a huge mistake with that Gardiner contract. It was a huge, unnecessary gamble on a player who's play didn't warrant it. He needs to trade Gardiner before it's too late. Make no mistake.. Gardiners contract will be worse than Clarksons. Clarkson is an NHL player with intangibles, Gardiner is an AHL tweener with the hockey IQ of a dog.

This might be one of the worst things I've ever seen posted on this board. Clarkson literally has nothing going for him. Gardiner's having an off year but he's shown over the past two years that he posses an elite shot and is an elite skater.

I guess Clarkson really protects Bernier's water bottles, though. Heck, even Jonathan Toews, Captain Intangibles himself, doesn't do that.

 

[soulie]

Gardiner has not proved he has an elite shot! come on man

 

[highslot]

Bernier, Kadri and Franson all need new contracts next season and there are rumours that the Cap may not go up.

So there may not be Cap room to keep Franson beyond this season and since he is a pending UFA he is going to want a big $$$ payday and is playing like he is in a contract year.

Many teams are looking for RH shooting PP capable Dman and I think Franson is going to test the UFA waters now.

Should the Leafs have locked him up long-term perhaps, but he was coming off a team worst -20 +/- and that made getting a long-term contract much harder based on his play.

time to sell.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

I think we can move both easily. Gardiner for a roster player forward or a second round pick. He won't get us a pick in the round he was selected. Franson could be moved for more value than Jake.

Really Percy is a nice player we could develop in the NHL to replace Gards. Percy from what I have seen could learn quicker and looks like he might have some offensively oriented skills also.

Moving Lupul for my thinking would have to generate a excellent return or keep him until the deadline and beyond. I still think Lupul has plenty to give, injury history aside.

We have some really nice depth and solid players that are having consistency problems related to work ethic. Work ethic is such a important indicator of how successful a team will be and it starts with the highest paid players and filters down to the freshest rookie, to be accountable to each other.

We know this team could be very successful and not need trades if it was not for sketchy work ethic turning into mistakes. The team should not need more time to evaluate our players.

 

[Stephen]

This might be one of the worst things I've ever seen posted on this board. Clarkson literally has nothing going for him. Gardiner's having an off year but he's shown over the past two years that he posses an elite shot and is an elite skater.

I guess Clarkson really protects Bernier's water bottles, though. Heck, even Jonathan Toews, Captain Intangibles himself, doesn't do that.

Clarkson has shown a lot of jump, sandpaper and even a little scoring punch this year.

Gardiner looks way too casual, careless and even cowardly to even utilize his natural abilities.

 

[Durrr]

 

[seanlinden]

Bernier, Kadri and Franson all need new contracts next season and there are rumours that the Cap may not go up.

So there may not be Cap room to keep Franson beyond this season and since he is a pending UFA he is going to want a big $$$ payday and is playing like he is in a contract year.

Many teams are looking for RH shooting PP capable Dman and I think Franson is going to test the UFA waters now.

Should the Leafs have locked him up long-term perhaps, but he was coming off a team worst -20 +/- and that made getting a long-term contract much harder based on his play.

The "difficulty" of getting a long term contract is all in how "difficult" Nonis and co want to be. I'd argue that his team worst -20 would've been a great way to get him on a long term deal without paying Matt Niskanen type money.

This might be one of the worst things I've ever seen posted on this board. Clarkson literally has nothing going for him. Gardiner's having an off year but he's shown over the past two years that he posses an elite shot and is an elite skater.

I guess Clarkson really protects Bernier's water bottles, though. Heck, even Jonathan Toews, Captain Intangibles himself, doesn't do that.

Gardiner does not posses an elite shot, especially for a defenceman. I'd go as far as saying it's well below average. Franson has a very good shot -- his wrister from the point is likely elite, his slapshot I'd classify as just good (he doesn't really have the ability to blow one past a goalie top shelf).

 

[dubplatepressure]

Right now Franson > Gardiner IMO. If he keeps it up through the season I can't see why we wouldn't trade Gardiner and keep Franson.

 

[seanlinden]

Right now Franson > Gardiner IMO. If he keeps it up through the season I can't see why we wouldn't trade Gardiner and keep Franson.

Because Franson is likely going to cost $5m+ now, when we could've had him for mid-4s last summer?

 

[paulster2626]

Patience, people. JGards has yet to reach his potential.

OMG GARDINER ISN'T INSTANTLY AMAZING AND FRANSON IS HAVING A BETTER SEASON LEAFS MANAGEMENT IS SO STUPID OMG OMG ROFLCOPTER

 

[Bullseye]

This might be one of the worst things I've ever seen posted on this board. Clarkson literally has nothing going for him. Gardiner's having an off year but he's shown over the past two years that he posses an elite shot and is an elite skater.

I guess Clarkson really protects Bernier's water bottles, though. Heck, even Jonathan Toews, Captain Intangibles himself, doesn't do that.

You've never played hockey or defense at least to make that statement. Gards quite simply is not an NHL defenseman. I've never seen amateur mistakes on a routine basis like this guy makes. I don't think a 2nd round pick is possible at this point. No GM in his right mind would give up anything worthwhile for this guy.

 

[diceman934]

I would bet that we can easily get more for Gardiner then Franson. We get calls daily and I would bet anyone that Gardiner is asked about more then most.

The system that we play defensively relies on all players on the ice to read and react off of each other...The average fan only sees Gardiner mistakes and miss the poor reads of his partner Polak who misses rotations far to many time

No one even mentions this, not saying that Gardiner mistakes are Polak's but it is hard to play when your partner is not on the same page.

Franson has always been better then most on here have gave him credit for....He is slow and that will not change... I have always liked his game...watch the game and watch the leafs d zone coverage when Dion and Franson are on the ice....they are not playing the same coverage as the other two pairings. This is helping this pairing as their skating prevents them from playing the same system.

 

[diceman934]

You've never played hockey or defense at least to make that statement. Gards quite simply is not an NHL defenseman. I've never seen amateur mistakes on a routine basis like this guy makes. I don't think a 2nd round pick is possible at this point. No GM in his right mind would give up anything worthwhile for this guy.

I would say your opinion of what we can get for Gardiner is so far from the true. Easily a 1st round pick...He is a NHL defenseman...He makes mistakes but he is playing scared and we have our idiot coach to blame for that...

 

[paulster2626]

You've never played hockey or defense at least to make that statement. Gards quite simply is not an NHL defenseman. I've never seen amateur mistakes on a routine basis like this guy makes. I don't think a 2nd round pick is possible at this point. No GM in his right mind would give up anything worthwhile for this guy.

Gardiner has the puck on his stick a lot more than most defencemen, and thus is prone to more turnovers and mistakes. He will improve, as would any human.

He is most certainly an NHL defenseman - what an absurd statement to say he isn't.

 

[Stephen]

Knowing what we already know we could still move both.

 

[Rufio65*]

I would say your opinion of what we can get for Gardiner is so far from the true. Easily a 1st round pick...He is a NHL defenseman...He makes mistakes but he is playing scared and we have our idiot coach to blame for that...

I really hope that this is sarcasm. Easily a first round pick? LOL you are dreaming.

Also how is a new coach going to get Gardiner to start playing with some sack? There is no cure for playing scared.